Register Now for the CJAC/CALA Day at the Capitol

The Civil Justice Association of California and California Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse cordially invite you to join us at our 2015 Day at the Capitol, Tuesday, March 24, 2015 in Sacramento, CA.

We encourage your attendance at one of our most important events of the year, our 2015 Day at the Capitol! The Day at the Capitol is an opportunity to bring real-world stories of lawsuit abuse to Legislators in Sacramento. Please join us as we continue to advocate for the improvement of California’s civil liability system.

The day begins at noon with guest speakers and lunch followed by Legislator visits and an evening reception.

RSVP by sending your name, email, and address so we may research your representatives to cjac@cjac.org. Click here for more information.

California and New York City Asbestos Litigation Court Declared Most Unfair in the Nation by ATRA

Posted on 12/16/2014 @ 01:00 PM

On Tuesday, December 16, 2014, the American Tort Reform Association released its annual report of jurisdictions that apply laws in an unfair and unbalanced manner. Among the top of the list were California, the West Virginia Supreme Court, the Florida Supreme Court, Madison County, Illinois, the Missouri Supreme Court, and Louisiana. However, New York City Asbestos Litigation (NYCAL) claimed the top spot.

California, which had held the top spot in 2013, dropped a spot this year. The report references a long-running case against the former manufacturers of lead paint that resulted in a $1.15 billion verdict, and a new case brought by Santa Clara and Orange Counties against the makers of prescription painkillers. Both cases have been brought under a public nuisance theory by private firms hired on contingency fees.

The report also included a Points of Light section, noting Judge George Hodges January ruling estimating Garlock Sealing Technologies’ asbestos liability at roughly $1 billion less than what plaintiff’s attorneys had hoped for.

Bogus coffee burn photos lead to arrest of McDonald's customer for fraud

Posted on 11/10/2014 @ 03:00 PM

According to a recent California Department of Insurance press release, a Victorville woman was arrested on 21 felony counts of insurance and workers' compensation fraud, including submitting a fraudulent insurance claim, false statements, and false evidence associated with an alleged fraudulent claim against McDonald's for second-degree burns to her hand from spilled coffee.

She claimed that when handed a cup of coffee at a McDonald's drive-thru, the lid was not secured and the coffee spilled on her right hand. Her injury claim included photos of a hand with second-degree burns. However, detectives discovered that the photos had been copied from a hospital website.

In addition to the photos, the woman submitted counterfeit documentation for treatment that she claimed to have received from a local hospital.

The woman, by copying, then submitting the legitimate burn photos as her own, “attempted to make a profit from another person’s pain and suffering and for this she will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law,” said Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones.

There's still time to register: CJAC/CALA Issue Briefing: “Is California’s Legal System Out of Step?”

Posted on 10/30/2014 @ 10:00 AM

The Civil Justice Association of California and Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse will host an issue briefing -- “Is California’s Legal System Out of Step”-- on November 18, 2014, at noon, at The Tech Museum of Innovation, 201 S. Market Street, San Jose, CA 95113-2008.

The issue briefing features Antonio Dias of Jones Day and Raymond Cardozo of Reed Smith who will discuss “Nuisance Lawsuits in California: Private Attorneys Seeking New Paydays.” Antonio Dias will cover Santa Clara County’s infamous lead paint lawsuit. Raymond Cardozo will talk about Orange County’s Opioid lawsuit. Additionally, Herbert Zarov of Mayer Brown will discuss California’s unique and problematic asbestos rules, also the subject of an upcoming report to be released by the Institute for Legal Reform.

Admission is free. Lunch will be served.

This issue briefing has been approved for one hour of MCLE credit by the State Bar of California. Attendance at this event by a public official will constitute acceptance of a reportable gift.

To RSVP for the event, please email Mary Gardner at mgardner@cjac.org with your name, company, phone number and email address. Please contact Mary via email or phone at 916-443-4900 if you have questions.

LA Lakers Threatened by Class Action Over Text Messages

Posted on 10/27/2014 @ 04:00 PM

A fan of the Los Angeles Lakers has filed a class action lawsuit against the team under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) for text messaging him. The TCPA was passed in 1991, prior to text messaging, in order to regulate unwanted and spam phone calls. Many teams, including the Lakers, offer fans the opportunity to have custom text messages displayed on arena screens during games. First, the fan sends the text message. Then, the team automatically sends a “thank you” response. However, this fan has filed suit against the team under the TCPA reasoning that the law covers text messaging, even though he initiated text communications to participate in the offer.

This is not the first case filed against a Los Angeles team under the TCPA. A lawsuit against the Clippers was recently settled.